Enzymes Flashcards

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1
Q

What are enzymes?

A

Large 3D protein molecules which catalyse reactions such as digestion.

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2
Q

What do enzymes do in digestion?

A

They break down food molecules so that they are small enough to enter the blood stream.

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3
Q

How are starch (carbohydrates) molecules broken down?

A
  • Amylase breaks down starch to maltose.
  • This isn’t small enough to enter the bloodstream so Maltase breaks down maltose to glucose which is easily absorbed by the bloodstream.
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4
Q

How are fats (lipids) broken down?

A
  • Bile from the liver mixes with the fat to make an emulsion and this neutralises the PH in the stomach because lipase needs to work in PH 7.
  • Then Lipase from the pancreas breaks down the fats to fatty acids and glycerol which is easily absorbed.
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5
Q

How are protein molecules broken down?

A
  • Tryspin from the pancreas breaks down proteins molecules into peptides.
  • Then peptidase breaks down peptides into amino acids which are easily absorbed.
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6
Q

What is the features of an active site in an enzyme?

A
  • The active site has a unique,specific shape that will only fit the correct substrate (other molecule in the reaction).
  • When the correct substrate fits into the active site an enzyme substrate complex is formed which allows the enzyme to catalyse a reaction.
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7
Q

What are two ways an enzyme can be denatured?

A
  • By high temperatures
  • By PH if it isn’t the PH that the enzyme works well in it means that the PH will change the shape of the enzymes active site (denature it).
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